On 28 June, the EU-Asia Centre organized a roundtable with senior EU officials and a visiting delegation of Middle East experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The themes discussed included the major powers and the Middle East, domestic trends, energy supplies and security.

EU speakers spoke of existing good cooperation with China in the field of maritime security (Operation Atalanta), Iran (nuclear non-proliferation), and economic development (Belt and Road Initiative). There were, however, gowing concerns over the situation in the Gulf, Libya, Yemen and the Horn of Africa. There had been a recent increase in piracy attacks. The EU was directly affected by developments in the region, notably through migration. Hence the EU was developing a new assistance package to try and stabilise countries most affected by conflict.

In light of a visiting high-level delegation of Middle East experts from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) ,the EU-Asia Centre is organizing a roundtable on 28 June from 1230-1430 in the Press Club, Rue Froissart 95.

Opening a panel discussion on 18 May on the impact of the Korean presidential elections, Fraser Cameron, Director, EU-Asia Centre, said that it was most timely to hold this discussion following the election of President Moon Jae-in. With the impeachment of former President Park Korean politics had entered a new phase. It had been an exciting election campaign with Moon winning a decisive majority. But he would not have a majority in parliament and would have to make compromises

The EU-Asia Centre is pleased to invite you to a panel discussion on the implications of the Korean presidential elections for domestic and foreign policy on 18 May

Moon Jae-in, the leader of the Democratic Party, was elected President on 9 May with a clear majority. But who is Moon Jae-in and what changes can be expected? His electioncomes at a time of great volatility on the Korean peninsula. North Korea is actively testing and growing its nuclear capabilities prompting a tough response from the Trump administration. China has also adopted a tougher line on sanctions but what will be the position of the new Korean president? How will relations between Korea, Japan and China develop - and with the US and EU? Lately economic growth has been slowing yet Korea, as a G20 member, has one of the best IT records in the world. Will there be any shake up in political or economic affairs?

The EU-Asia Centre with the Confucius Institute of the VUB， and the Brussels Academy for China and European Studies, invite you to a panel discussion on ‘Public Diplomacy – the Chinese and EU Approaches’ on 3 May.

China’s increasing importance on the global stage coincides with its efforts to improve its public diplomacy based on political (G20 summit), economic (OBOR), cultural (Confucius Institutes) and sporting (Olympic Games) inputs. It is keen to expand its soft power using the media (CGTN, China Daily, Xinhua, etc) as well as ancient Chinese statecraft. The EU has always struggled to achieve an effective communications strategy, perhaps because of the many voices at the table and perhaps because of inadequate resources. Now both actors are keen to improve their public diplomacy with both Wang Yi and Federica Mogherini giving the subject top priority. But how are both sides approaching public diplomacy? How does each define the concept? What can each side learn from each other as well as best practices elsewhere? To discuss these and other questions you are invited to a panel discussion from 1700-1830 on 3 May in the Press Club, 95 Rue Froissart, 1040 Brussels.

Opening the event on 15 March, Fraser Cameron drew attention to the many uncertainties surrounding trade policy. What would happen to TPP? Is there an opportunity for the EU to play a leadership role? Could China now dominate the trade scene with RCEP? Could the EU-Japan FTA be completed in the coming months?

As President Trump withdraws the US from the TPP, seen by Obama as the centre of the US pivot to Asia, what does this mean for trade policy in Asia? Is there an opportunity for the EU to play a leadership role? Could the TPP be saved under Japan-Australia leadership? Could China now dominate the trade scene with RCEP? What are the prospects for the Asia-Pacific FTA (FTAAP) idea? What is the future for bilateral relationships, whether the US or EU with Japan, China, and the countries of SE Asia? Can the EU-Japan FTA be completed in the coming months? These and other issues will be discussed at a panel discussion from 1700-1830 on 15 March in the Press Club, Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels.

On 22 February the EU-Asia Centre and the Confucius Institute of the VUB held a panel discussion on OBOR with Chinese and EU experts. Opening the event, Fraser Cameron, Director of the EU-Asia Centre, pointed to OBOR as a new and important element of EU-China relations. The Centre was part of the OBOR think tank network and would be participating in the 14 May summit in Beijing.

On 9 February, the EU-Asia Centre, the Brussels Academy for China and European Studies (BACES) and the Confucius Institute at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), together with Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations, Centre Européen de Recherches Internationales et Stratégiques, organized a workshop and academic debate on the Trump Administration and US-China Relations: The Chinese and European Perspectives.